Paramilitary threats on Castlereagh community centre justify Alliance stance

6.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 16th Jun 2006

Alliance Castlereagh Councillor, Michael Long

Castlereagh Alliance Councillor Michael Long has expressed his disgust at a paramilitary attack on a Council-run community centre, and said such actions justify the Alliance Group's stance on links to paramilitary representatives. The centre was broken into and threats made to staff employed by the Council.

Cllr Long, the Alliance Vice Chair, stated: "No matter what the issue or the grievance concerned, it is totally unacceptable to behave in this way. Threats on staff in Council-run premises simply will not be tolerated.

"This appalling incident shows once again that paramilitaries are still active in Castlereagh.

"The Alliance Group in Council will continue to condemn any Unionist hypocrisy on this issue, and this latest episode shows the value of our stance even at local level.

"Democratic parties simply cannot continue to court paramilitary representatives as part of their groups."

It is thought the centre will have to remain closed until the middle of next week.

ENDS